Little Tern - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Sternula albifrons

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Profile last updated: 13 Oct 2021

Description

The Little Tern is a small, slender, migratory or partly migratory seabird. At less than 25 cm long it is two-thirds to half the size of any other south-eastern tern. Pale grey upperparts contrast with the white chest, underbelly and the moderately long, deeply forked tail (80 - 110 mm). The Little Tern has a black cap and black outer wing-edges. During breeding the bill (26 - 32 mm) and legs change from black to yellow, and a black wedge appears from the bill to the eye. During non-breeding, the Little Tern’s black cap shrinks to a black nape and its bill becomes black.

Distribution

Migrating from eastern Asia, the Little Tern is found on the north, east and south-east Australian coasts, from Shark Bay in Western Australia to the Gulf of St Vincent in South Australia. In NSW, it arrives from September to November, occurring mainly north of Sydney, with smaller numbers found south to Victoria. It breeds in spring and summer along the entire east coast from Tasmania to northern Queensland, and is seen until May, with only occasional birds seen in winter months.

Habitat and ecology

Almost exclusively coastal, preferring sheltered environments; however may occur several kilometres from the sea in harbours, inlets and rivers (with occasional offshore islands or coral cay records).
Nests in small, scattered colonies in low dunes or on sandy beaches just above high tide mark near estuary mouths or adjacent to coastal lakes and islands.
The nest is a scrape in the sand, which may be lined with shell grit, seaweed or small pebbles.
Both parents incubate up to three well-camouflaged eggs for up to 22 days, aggressively defending the nest against intruders until the young fledge at 17 - 19 days.
Often seen feeding in flocks, foraging for small fish, crustaceans, insects, worms and molluscs by plunging in the shallow water of channels and estuaries, and in the surf on beaches, or skipping over the water surface with a swallow-like flight.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

Predation of eggs and chicks by foxes.
Disturbance of nesting shorebirds and direct mortality of eggs and chicks by trampling or removal by humans. 4WDs are a threat at some sites.
Disturbance of nesting shorebirds and direct predation of eggs and chicks by dogs.
Inundation of nests by high tides, storms and other flooding.
Predation of eggs and chicks by avian predators (mostly corvids and gulls).
Loss or degradation of habitat (e.g. nesting areas and foraging areas) due to hydrological changes in estuaries.
Degradation of habitat due to contamination of estuaries by urban and agricultural run-off, sediment re-suspension and oil-spills.
Reduction of nesting area due to encroachment of vegetation.
Entanglement in or ingestion of marine debris.
Low survival of fledged birds outside nesting areas due to unknown causes.

Recovery strategies

A targeted strategy for managing this species has been developed under the Saving Our Species program; click here for details. For more information on the Saving Our Species program click here

Activities to assist this species

Keep domestic dogs/cats indoors at night.
Support local community groups acting as nesting site wardens.
Undertake fox and feral cat control programs.
Searches for the species should be conducted in suitable habitat in proposed development areas.
OEH should be consulted when planning development/s to minimise impact/s on populations.
Assess appropriateness of dog/cat ownership in new subdivisions.
Manage estuaries and the surrounding landscape to ensure the natural hydrological regimes are maintained.
Erect fences and interpretive signage to minimise human disturbance and advise how their behaviour can affect the threatened species' survival.
Limit visitor movement through sites.
Protect and maintain known or potential habitats, including implementation of protection zones around known habitat sites and sites of recent records.
Assess the site's importance to the species' survival, including linkages provided between ecological resources across the broader landscape.
Flag beaches with lines of bunting or raise nests on sandbags to protect nesting birds in flood prone areas.

Information sources

Higgins, P. and Davies, S. (eds.) (1996) Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds Volume 3: Snipe to Pigeons. (Oxford University Press, Melbourne)
Hill, R., Bamford, M., Rounsevell, D. and Vincent, J. (1988) Little Terns and Fairy Terns in Australia - an RAOU Conservation Statement. Royal Australian Ornithologists Union Report 53, Melbourne.
Martindale, J. (1985) North Coast Little Tern Survey 1984-85. Unpublished Report, NSW NPWS.
Morris, A.K., McGill, A.R. and Holmes, G. (1981) Handlist of Birds in New South Wales. NSW Field Ornithologists Club, Sydney.
Murray, A. (1994) Little Tern. Australian Natural History 24(10):22-23
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2003) Little Tern (Sterna albifrons) Recovery Plan. NSW NPWS, Hurstville NSW.
Owen, R. (1991) A Report on the Management of Little Tern Sterna albifrons in the Bairnsdale Region during the 1990/1991 Breeding Season. Unpublished Report, Victorian Department of Conservation and the Environment, Bairnsdale.
Smith, P. (1990) The biology and management of the Little Tern Sterna albifrons in NSW. NPWS, Sydney.
Smith, P. (1994) Management of the Little Tern Sterna albifrons Colony at Forster. Report to NSW NPWS, Hurstville.

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

NSW North Coast	Coffs Coast and Escarpment	Known	Within 10 km of coast and tidal influenced water bodies
NSW North Coast	Karuah Manning	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Macleay Hastings	Known	Within 10 km of coast and tidal influenced water bodies
NSW North Coast	Yuraygir	Known	Within 10 km of coast and tidal influenced water bodies
Ocean	Batemans Shelf	Known	None
Ocean	Hawkesbury Shelf	Known	None
Ocean	Manning Shelf	Known	None
Ocean	South Pacific Ocean	Known	None
Ocean	Tweed-Moreton	Known	None
Ocean	Twofold Shelf	Known	None
Ocean - Other State	Northern Australian Coastal Waters	Known	None
Ocean - Other State	Southern Australian Coastal Waters	Known	None
Other State	Jervis Bay Territory	Predicted	None
Other State	QLD	Known	None
Other State	SA	Known	None
Other State	VIC	Known	None
South East Corner	Bateman	Known	None
South East Corner	East Gippsland Lowlands	Known	None
South East Corner	South East Coastal Ranges	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Burringbar-Conondale Ranges	Known	Within 10 km of coast and tidal influenced water bodies
South Eastern Queensland	Clarence Lowlands	Known	Within 10 km of coast and tidal influenced water bodies
South Eastern Queensland	Sunshine Coast-Gold Coast Lowlands	Known	Within 10 km of coast and tidal influenced water bodies
Sydney Basin	Hunter	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Illawarra	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Jervis	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Pittwater	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Sydney Cataract	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Wyong	Known	None